Chapter 336: Ten Breaths

“Who will come?”

The shout echoed. When it reached the ears of Qing Sanren and Lieyan Renmo, they couldn’t help but tremble slightly, feeling as if their momentum had been suppressed.

If both were willing to fight to the death, they might have been able to kill Meng Qi at the cost of injuries or exhaustion. However, neither trusted the other to commit fully, so neither dared to risk everything themselves, fearing they would become the sacrificial lamb dragged down by the Mad Blade in his final moments. Even if they survived, they would end up gravely wounded and depleted, leaving the other with an effortless advantage.

Without unity and filled with mutual suspicion, sometimes it’s actually better to fight one at a time. But who would willingly be the first to step forward?

In reality, Meng Qi’s injuries weren’t as severe as they imagined. Although the wound from Lieyan Renmo’s blade looked gruesome, it was merely a flesh wound. With his muscles contracting, most of the bleeding had already stopped.

This wasn’t because his Golden Bell Cover and Eight Trigrams Mystical Arts, which hadn’t yet opened the Eight Orifices, had surpassed their limits by so much. Lieyan Renmo, after all, had achieved preliminary communion between man and heaven through his demonic techniques, far stronger than a normal nine-orifice martial artist. The fact that Meng Qi could significantly reduce damage showed how powerful the Golden Bell Cover and Eight Trigrams Mystical Arts truly were.

Moreover, Meng Qi was wearing fish-scale soft armor made from the scales of a Dorchad, an external landscape demon. After Lieyan Renmo’s blade pierced the armor, its power was greatly diminished. If Meng Qi hadn’t deliberately used the force of that strike, the wound wouldn’t have been so deep, and the Golden Bell Cover wouldn’t have been broken. The residual scorching heat from the demonic energy cutting into his skin was the main reason for the severity of the wound.

Meng Qi’s main injury actually came from Qing Sanren’s earlier palm strike. It was Yin-soft and icy-cold, insidious and penetrating. The fish-scale armor couldn’t reduce much of its effect. He had mainly relied on the Eight Trigrams Mystical Arts and Golden Bell Cover to endure it, using the Deathless Seal Art to transform death into life. However, the cold energy still affected his meridians and blood, nearly freezing them. If not for the fact that both his Eight Trigrams Mystical Arts and Golden Bell Cover were stronger than his meridians, after that palm strike his limbs would have stiffened, and the slash against Lieyan Renmo wouldn’t have been so effective.

The scorching hot energy from Lieyan Renmo that had entered Meng Qi’s body was redirected and utilized by the Deathless Seal Art, actually relieving some of the stiffness and improving Meng Qi’s condition slightly.

Without hesitation, Meng Qi took in the situation of both opponents at a glance while shouting.

Lieyan Renmo was unharmed, his complexion normal, and his energy thick, except for significant mental exhaustion. He was basically still at his peak…

Qing Sanren’s pale face, like someone suffering from internal injuries, faintly showed a dark bluish hue, his breath slightly unstable…

After suffering from martial arts backlash once, he barely managed to survive, but his strength had greatly diminished, leaving him with an incurable internal injury. Every time he struck someone with his palm was equivalent to self-mutilation… Every time he struck someone with his palm was equivalent to self-mutilation… This intelligence suddenly flashed through Meng Qi’s mind. Now it was indeed proven to be true!

Earlier, Qing Sanren had already used his external landscape killing move, which definitely caused him significant self-harm!

He cultivated the Cold Palm, and its backlash was unavoidable within this scope. If the battle continued, his blood would freeze, and his movements would become sluggish…

If Qing Sanren didn’t use external landscape techniques and relied solely on normal palm strikes, with his strength and cultivation level, he could probably last a long time, waiting to find a good opportunity before launching a decisive strike. But earlier, Meng Qi’s deceptive use of the Eight Trigrams Mystical Arts allowed him to seize the chance to strike down the Soul-Draining Xiao flute, forcing Qing Sanren to do his utmost to save someone, which resulted in serious backlash!

In other words, Qing Sanren couldn’t sustain prolonged combat anymore. He would try to end the battle quickly, so he would inevitably use external landscape killing moves again, then before the backlash fully manifested, he would use his famous lightness technique to shake off Lieyan Renmo and buy time for recovery.

The battle situation was changing, and so was Qing Sanren’s mindset. If one couldn’t grasp this point, the outcome would be death on the battlefield!

Meng Qi’s heart was as calm as still water, as if observing patterns on the palm. As the shout of “Who will come?” echoed, he had already raised his blade and charged toward Lieyan Renmo.

Seemingly attacking the demon, actually targeting the scatterer!

This was the strategy Meng Qi had now determined!

Earlier, to block Meng Qi’s escape route, Lieyan Renmo and Qing Sanren hadn’t stood together. Therefore, when Meng Qi moved like a phantom demon, unpredictably rushing toward Lieyan Renmo, Qing Sanren glided close like water, ghostlike and terrifyingly fast, turning without any trace of fireworks.

With just this lightness technique alone, he basically stood undefeated in battle—he could strike others, but others couldn’t reach him. If he really couldn’t win, he could still escape.

If not for his hidden injuries and the backlash he suffered, alone he could have forced Meng Qi to use all his tricks just to have a slim chance of escape. However, if it weren’t for his incurable hidden injuries, he wouldn’t have secretly accepted the commission to surround and kill Meng Qi. In the mysterious and unfathomable ways of fate, everything had its own destiny.

Watching Meng Qi’s flickering, demon-like figure—so different from the image evoked by the Golden Bell Cover and Eight Trigrams Mystical Arts—Lieyan Renmo was slightly taken aback but remained emotionally unaffected. Suddenly, he swung his blade, its dark-red edge vibrating as flames swirled around it, slashing directly toward Meng Qi’s left side.

This was the opening he had detected.

Though his swordsmanship was far inferior to Meng Qi’s, after years of immersion, he could still be considered a master. This slash showed no signs beforehand, and now trailing flames, it struck precisely at the weakness in Meng Qi’s phantom demon technique, as if Meng Qi were willingly colliding with the demon blade.

He didn’t choose another vulnerable spot because, from their earlier exchanges, he was certain that the Crazy Blade had excellent close-range armor on his body. Combined with his physical martial arts, attacking the torso might give the opponent an opportunity to trade injuries for a breakthrough in the encirclement.

Meng Qi’s form shifted continuously, defying all logic to prevent Qing Sanren from locking onto him from a distance with palm strikes. Facing Lieyan Renmo’s slash, he made no attempt to defend, instead retaliating with an attack of his own—a direct strike aimed at Lieyan Renmo’s left ribs. The blade moved with blinding speed, like a streak of silver-white lightning, its gleam barely visible before the weapon itself arrived!

Entering swordsmanship with the Solitary Sword Nine Stances, attacking instead of defending!

Lieyan Renmo knew that “Crazy Blade” Su Meng’s sword techniques were considered master-level, so he had anticipated this. Slightly shifting his body, he slashed with his demon blade, intercepting the Tian Zhi Shang (Heaven’s Wound), the blade’s momentum continuous, entwining upward, mainly defensive, intending to stall Meng Qi while waiting for Qing Sanren’s arrival, without any intention of going all out.

Meng Qi kept changing positions, the light flashing repeatedly, slashing six times in succession. Each slash forced Lieyan Renmo to defend and block. Each displayed the essence of sword techniques, as if approaching some principles hidden within heaven and earth—sometimes fast as lightning, sometimes slow with hidden changes, sometimes heavy as thunder, sometimes empty as the sky, sometimes forming wave-like momentum, sometimes striking directly into the heart. It was truly the peak of Meng Qi’s swordsmanship.

At this life-or-death moment, Meng Qi’s sword techniques unleashed long-accumulated potential, almost reaching the level of mastery and effortless fluency.

After this fierce onslaught, Lieyan Renmo was compelled to block frantically, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. Barely managing to hold his ground, a faint sense of dread crept over him—without assistance, a direct confrontation with the Mad Blade would likely end in his defeat and death.

Qing Sanren had already rushed nearby, but Meng Qi’s footwork was also extraordinary, like illusions and smoke, changing cleverly, sometimes defying logic, making him hard to lock onto. Therefore, Qing Sanren couldn’t immediately launch a killing move, which might harm Lieyan Renmo.

Although killing Lieyan Renmo wouldn’t bother him at all, seriously injuring his ally during the fight without killing the enemy would only leave him in a precarious situation alone. He still understood this principle.

However, his lightness technique was indeed superb, following Meng Qi’s changes like a persistent parasite. Soon, he locked onto him, raising both palms with greenish qi appearing on his face.

At this moment, Meng Qi suddenly roared, “Kill!”

The consecutive roars slightly reduced their vigilance. Then thunderous words rolled out, shaking their souls, making them dizzy and disoriented.

Already struggling under the six slashes, Lieyan Renmo barely withstood the shock and instinctively chose to retreat and defend, fearing that Su Meng would seize the opportunity to unleash a killing move.

The Tian Zhi Shang disappeared from Lieyan Renmo’s sight. Meng Qi had already turned and slashed downward, delivering nine high-speed strikes. Each slash summoned a purple thunder dragon, crackling with electricity, layer upon layer compressing, the rumbling sounds intertwining with the thunderous words.

Nine thunder dragons converged, intertwining with one another, crackling incessantly as they formed a massive rolling wheel, crushing toward Qing Sanren with overwhelming ferocity.

Being attacked by Qing Sanren’s external landscape killing move was entirely different from forcing him to use an external landscape move for defense, especially in this surrounded situation!

After this slash, Meng Qi’s spirit was completely drained, blood flowing from the corners of his eyes and nostrils.

The Self-Sacrifice Formula was activated, rapidly restoring his spirit.

Qing Sanren, already suffering from hidden injuries, was slightly stunned by the thunderous words. When he regained his senses, a deafening roar filled his ears, and fierce purple lightning rushed toward him. With the speed of this slash and the proximity between them, he could no longer evade using his lightness technique.

His face turned even more greenish, and his palms slowly pushed out. Though appearing slow in contrast to the lightning, this push gave the impression of freezing a thousand years, causing everything to solidify.

Suddenly, large snowflakes began to drift down nearby, slowly covering the earth with a silent white.

Pak!

The seemingly slow palms arrived first, striking the purple electric dragon. The thunder froze, then shattered. The palms struck the Tian Zhi Shang blade again.

Silver-white slowed, frost forming on the blade. If Meng Qi hadn’t used a treasure weapon, any ordinary weapon would have frozen and crumbled on the spot.

Puh!

Meng Qi spat out a mouthful of blood, darkish-blue in color. His strength was slightly inferior to Qing Sanren’s. Going all out against each other inevitably allowed residual cold energy to invade. Fortunately, he had the Eight Trigrams Mystical Arts, Golden Bell Cover, and Deathless Seal Art.

At this moment, his mind, as clear as a mirror, suddenly reflected Qing Sanren’s energy flow and muscle reactions. Though indistinct, they were undeniably present—no longer the frozen stillness from before.

After this killing move, had Qing Sanren’s backlash been so severe that his cultivation level dropped to that of a normal nine-orifice martial artist?

Meng Qi suddenly understood. Clenching his teeth, he thrust out his left sword without regard for Lieyan Renmo’s slash from behind.

His original plan was to unleash the Purple Thunder Energy, forcing Qing Sanren to use an external landscape killing move to counter, thus suffering severe backlash and becoming temporarily stiff, unable to chase him. Then he would turn around and deliver a near-external landscape-level strike. Even if he couldn’t kill Lieyan Renmo, he could make him use all his tricks and suffer injuries, focusing first on defense.

Finally, seizing such an opportunity, he would use his remaining strength to escape before the effects of the Self-Sacrifice Formula wore off.

But now, Qing Sanren’s backlash was much more severe than Meng Qi had imagined, so he changed his mind.

Take advantage of his illness to end his life. Don’t give Qing Sanren the chance to retreat and recover using his lightness technique!

The sword light was dazzling, reaching the peak of brilliance, without any changes, without any retreat. The sword intent and momentum merged as one, seizing the fleeting moment, capturing the faintest thread of death hidden in heaven and earth.

Qing Sanren’s blood was nearly frozen. He couldn’t recover his breath or use the method to stimulate his essence blood. His foot slid, and he wanted to retreat first to ease the situation. He believed that Lieyan Renmo behind him wouldn’t stand by and watch at a critical moment.

Of course, Lieyan Renmo wouldn’t disappoint his expectations. Meng Qi had his back turned, fully focused on Qing Sanren. How could he miss such a good opportunity?

His demonic blade, plain and unadorned, swept forth without the slightest tremor—only restraint, as though concealing a fire potent enough to incinerate entire forests. It silently cleaved toward Meng Qi’s neck. The surrounding void shifted from black to crimson, as if flames were gathering in its wake.

He used his external landscape killing move, determined to kill with one slash.

Suddenly, a blade appeared before his eyes—a peculiar, wound-like big blade. How could Su Meng, who was using his left sword to unleash his ultimate move, still have the presence of mind to use his right hand?

Shock flashed across his face, but he had no time to change his move and was struck by Tian Zhi Shang.

Dang!

The sound was weak. This slash contained only a little true energy, but the force was skillfully applied at the right moment. It slightly deflected the demon blade, making it miss the neck and instead strike Meng Qi’s left back near the armpit.

The fish-scale armor was cut open, the light gold completely damaged. The wound was exposed, blood and flesh suddenly burning, spreading inward. His spine, like a dragon or snake, was exposed to Lieyan Renmo’s view.

The sword light was beautifully indescribable, faster than Qing Sanren’s stiff and sluggish lightness technique. Poetic and song-like, it illuminated Qing Sanren’s vision.

Had Lieyan Renmo not slashed?

Pu, an astonished expression remained in his pupils at the beauty of the sword light from heaven. He fell down, stunned with fear and disbelief.

Meng Qi used the momentum to lunge forward, escaping Lieyan Renmo’s subsequent blade attacks. Enduring the external landscape killing move had seriously injured him, almost severing his spine and paralyzing his limbs.

Even so, his Golden Bell Cover had already been broken, losing its damage reduction effect. If not for the critical moment of multitasking, using both hands simultaneously to divert the vital points, he might have ended up like Qing Sanren, dead on the spot.

Though severely injured, his momentum didn’t wane. Meng Qi turned around, watching Qing Sanren just collapsing to the ground and Lieyan Renmo, full of disbelief, blood splattering, suppressing the flames, roaring, “Another one!”

“I can only last ten breaths.”

Meng Qi’s left arm hung limp, while his right hand brandished a long blade. His entire body was drenched in blood, his wounds ghastly, his hair disheveled—he looked almost like a demon god.

“But within ten breaths, I will kill you!”